thinking about a larger family car...ideas?

[thebarber]

thinking about a larger family car for trips, etc. Current cars are a 2007 yaris 3dr and a 2006 aveo sedan....

been thinking about a used saab 9-3 wagon, dodge magnum, matrix/vibe

so far there's myself, my wife, our 9-month-old, and my wifes mother in our house-hold. im aiming to keep both of our current cars (yaris as the commuter, the aveo as the mother-in-law-mobile, and the new-to-us car as the family hauler)

any other ideas for economical-ish wagons? id kinda like to stay away from new vechicles and suv's, however, the new chevy equinox is intriguing too

[tomato]

I know you said had a soso experience with your previous Matrix but I think it'd make a kickass family car.

[thebarber]

Originally Posted by tomato

I know you said had a soso experience with your previous Matrix but I think it'd make a kickass family car.

ya, id buy another one.....almost bought a vibe with a bum 1zz in it last week, but guy sold it before i could make an offer (after running the idea past my wife)

[slothman86]

Toyota Sienna!

[nemelek]

I know that you didn't an SUV, however, my wife has a Honda CR-v which makes for an ideal people hauler. The 4 cylinder will get 30 mpg highway. The draw back was that with all it's perks it cost $10,000 more than my Yaris.

[thebarber]

ya, not sure the honda cr-v's are for me....resale is too high and i don't like them enough to pay the extra for a japnese vehicle

[WeeYari]

My parents currently have an Equinox, and are about to get another for a 2nd vehicle. Nice enough multi-function vehicle with surprising fuel economy.

Drove past Gorrud's Auto in Milton yesterday and noticed a 2006 xB on the lot. Listed for 15,988. I have no idea what a decent price is for used xBs. Wouldn't mind having one myself.

http://www.gorruds.com/used-inventor...05f7363214.htm

[amtoro]

For a family car, I'd have a wagon/combi/estate for the cargo space and the comfort and economy of an automobile. The Toyota Venza looks very appealing to me, or if you can afford it, a Volkswagen Turbo Diesel

[blacksandiegovitz]

96-2001 audi a-4 wagon with the 1.8t motor ... Great looking cars , great handling ,good power/mpg's/ room and can be bought for around 4-6k

I also really like the 95-99 volvo 940 turbo wagons , pretty much all the same perks as the audi has but for less $$$

[slothman86]

Originally Posted by blacksandiegovitz

96-2001 audi a-4 wagon with the 1.8t motor ... Great looking cars , great handling ,good power/mpg's/ room and can be bought for around 4-6k

I also really like the 95-99 volvo 940 turbo wagons , pretty much all the same perks as the audi has but for less $$$

even the galvanized steel body?

[JumpmanYaris]

Get a SEDAN or a 5door

[yaris-me]

I think the Matrix/Vibe would work.

[TLyttle]

Strong, safe, not too bad on fuel, reliable, roomy: Volvo wagon. IMHO, the ONLY non-Japanese vehicle worth the time. My old 245 is rusty, but with 200,000 miles on it, apparently it is half-way through it's life.

Not that you will run into much snow there in Ontario, but Volvos were designed by people who live in the snow...

[coffiend]

all I've heard is terrible things about the dodge magnum, I'd stay away from it if I were you...

if you're gonna do a wagon... do it right



:P

[Phaeton]

Or for practicality and price you could always buy a mid 90's volvo 850 wagon. Those things are very comfy and pretty reliable.

[thebarber]

well, my wife loves the new jetta tdi wagon, but i was underwhelmed when driving it....we took out a 6spd manual....just wasnt as impressive-feeling as when we drove a golf tdi 4 years go....didnt have the grunt i was expecting from 236 ft-lb. that and they start at like $25000CAD

id like to spend less than 15kCAD used....

as for the gas guzzler comments and the magnum...i realize itd be a bit of a pig, but it'd be mainly for family stints on the highway and etc....my wife and i commute together in the yaris and the aveo is good enough for grandma and zoe in the day....

wee, what year equinox do your folks have? im leary of actual economy claims and i don't really like that first-gen ones, but i could cope

[DevilGirl]

Originally Posted by thebarber

well, my wife loves the new jetta tdi wagon, but i was underwhelmed when driving it....we took out a 6spd manual....just wasnt as impressive-feeling as when we drove a golf tdi 4 years go....didnt have the grunt i was expecting from 236 ft-lb. that and they start at like $25000CAD

My boyfriend has a 2009 Jetta TDI Sportwagen 6spd. He also has a 2002 Golf TDI auto. The 09 totally kills the 02. He drives the 09 daily, but then again, his commute is only like 15 minutes down the road. It's mainly for family purposes (just him, me, puppy, and his mom thus far, but thinking towards the hopefully near future).

To me, the clutch just feels weird in the 09. I like the Yaris better for the clutch.

[WeeYari]

Originally Posted by thebarber

wee, what year equinox do your folks have? im leary of actual economy claims and i don't really like that first-gen ones, but i could cope

They've had a first gen for close to 2 years now. Apparently they just got the 2nd one. A 2010 now sitting in their driveway with a whopping 19 kms on it.

Here's a quote from my dad for ya;

'The old OX is a 2007 with the 3.4 engine and I haven't checked the mileage the old fashioned way for a long time. The gauges say the current tank full is giving us 9.5 Lts. per 100 klics. but that was going to Sarnia running around there and here. The numbers your friend is leary of likely are the 2010 4 bangers with 6 speed and 17 in. rubber like ours. Add a 6 cyl. and all wheel drive etc. and it goes downhill. We shall see if we get what G.M. is saying.'